ROME - Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Monday that his country has decided to recognize the legitimacy of the Interim Transitional National Council established by Libya's rebels.

"We have decided to recognize the Libyan National Transitional Council as the sole legitimate interlocutor for bilateral affairs with Libya," Frattini said after talks with council foreign affairs chief Ali al-Isawi.

Frattini would not rule out the possibility of delivering weapons to Libyan rebels as a "last-resort" option. He also accused the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's government of using illegal immigration as a weapon.

Frattini announced that Italian planes will be used to transport the wounded from the Misrata hospital to a hospital ship.

France and Qatar have recognized Libyan rebels' council before Italy.